Telescopic Wing of an Advanced Flying Automobile

This paper describes the results of NASA SBIR Phase I program determining the feasibility of a composite telescopic wing for a roadable aircraft. The project titled “Design and Manufacture of a Deployable Highly Loaded Airfoil Structure” analyzed the claims of the US Patent No.4,824,053 and fabricated a half scale functionality model. The functionality model, consisting of three segments, represents one quarter of a wing. The research effort compiled basic knowledge required to design, produce and certify a composite telescopic wing. Preliminary structural analysis and functionality model show that telescopic principles are practical for deployable highly loaded airfoil structures. Furthermore, this emerging technology has potential for a wide range of applications including Advanced Flying Automobiles (AFA), civil aviation, military air transportation and space exploration.